Verbena plant named ‘Miss Anne’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of perennial  Verbena canadensis  named ‘Miss Anne’ characterized by vigorous spreading habit, dark green foliage, and large pure-white flowers. In combination these traits set ‘Miss Anne’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Verbena  known to the inventor.

Genus: Verbena.

Species: canadensis.

Denomination: Miss Anne.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena(common name, Vervain) that is grown as an ornamental perennial andwhich is used in planters, hanging baskets or planted in the landscape.The new cultivar is known botanically as Verbena canadensis and will bereferred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Miss Anne’.

Both prior to the inventor's discovery of ‘Miss Anne’ in 1992 andsubsequently, the inventor, who is an experienced gardener and avidplant collector, had acquired or purchased from local and distantnursery and mail order sources, and had planted, a very large number ofplants listed and described as perennial white Verbenas.

‘Miss Anne’ was discovered by the inventor in 1992 in a cultivated areaof Lincoln County, Miss. The inventor was impressed by the unusuallylarge flowers which were pure white in color, and the overall vigor ofthe plant compared to all other white Verbenas known to the inventor.The inventor is unable to determine the parental provenance of ‘MissAnne’ but does consider after making careful observations and enquiriesover ten years that ‘Miss Anne’ is a novel and exceptionally usefulplant variety whose properties are listed within the Summary of theInvention herein.

The inventor considers that the closest comparison plant in respect ofthe combination of qualities of ‘Miss Anne’ is Verbena canadensis‘Homestead Purple’ (unpatented) which is renowned for its perennialreliability in the south-eastern landscape. Apart from the difference inflower color, ‘Miss Anne’ is distinguishable from ‘Homestead Purple’primarily as follows: ‘Miss Anne’ has more numerous and larger sizedflowers, and a darker green and finer textured foliage which grows andspreads rapidly.

When compared with other white Verbenas in commerce, specifically thefollowing varieties: Verbena ‘Aztec White’ (Balazwhit, U.S. Plant Pat.No. 13,943), Verbena ‘Tortuga White’ (Tort White, U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,193), Verbena ‘Tukana White’ (Blancena, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,219)and Verbena ‘Babylon White’ (Vertis, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,288), ‘MissAnne’ exhibits two main differences:

First, ‘Miss Anne’ tolerates frost and has survived in temperatures of18 degrees Fahrenheit (USDA Zone 8) whereas the varieties listed aboveare variously described as intolerant of temperatures below freezingpoint.

Second, the inflorescence (umbel) of ‘Miss Anne’ is significantly largerin diameter than the infloresence of any of the varieties listed above.The infloresence diameter of ‘Miss Anne’ is typically 80 mm, whereas theinfloresence diameters of the above varieties ranges between 30 mm and60 mm.

The first asexual reproduction of ‘Miss Anne’ was conducted by theinventor in 1992 or 1993 in a cultivated area of Baldwin County, Ala.The method used for asexual propagation was softwood stem cuttings. Thecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been observed by the inventorfor more than ten years and are considered by the inventor to be stableand to have been reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Verbena cultivar ‘Miss Anne’. These traits incombination distinguish ‘Miss Anne’ from all other commercial varietiesknown to the inventor. ‘Miss Anne’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions.

-   -   1. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ is a white-flowered perennial.    -   2. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ exhibits large pure-white flower heads.    -   3. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ exhibits fine textured dark green        lemon-scented foliage.    -   4. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ grows well in sun as well as partial        shade in any well-drained soil.    -   5. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ tolerates high heat and humidity,        remaining free of disease expression.    -   6. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ is easily propagated by softwood stem        cuttings.    -   7. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ is 30-35 cm. in mature height and may        spread to 150 cm.    -   8. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ is hardy in USDA Zone 8.    -   9. Verbena ‘Miss Anne’ blooms continuously year round in the        South of the U.S., including consistent flowering during hot and        humid summer months.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the overall appearance of ‘MissAnne’ growing under summer conditions out-of-doors in Pensacola, Fla.The displayed colors are as true as it is reasonably possible to obtainin colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differfrom the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichmore accurately described the actual colors of ‘Miss Anne’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates a six month old (from a struckcutting) plant in a 3 liter container in bloom from a top perspective.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flower.

The drawings were made using conventional photographic techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance they are as accurate as possible by conventionalphotography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of ‘Miss Anne’ when grown in a1-liter container in Pensacola, Fla. The color determinations are inaccordance with the 2001 edition of The Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena canadensis.-   Species: canadensis.-   Denomination: ‘Miss Anne’.-   Commercial classification: Herbaceous perennial.-   Use: Ornamental for planter, hanging basket or landscape.-   Container size: 1-liter container.-   Plant dimensions (typical of growth in a 1 liter container): 46 cm.    in width and 20 cm in height from the soil level.-   Plant dimensions (mature plant in landscape): 100 cm-150 cm in width    (spread) and 30 cm-35 cm in height from the soil level.-   Cultural requirements: Plant in full sun or partial shade in any    type of well-drained soil.-   Special needs: None.-   Resistance to pests and disease: Plant is highly resistance to    insects and disease particularly thrips and mildew.-   Parentage: Unknown.-   Bloom period: Year round.-   Plant habit: Spreading.-   Vigor: Vigorous.-   Sexuality: Bisexual.-   Hardiness: Survives air temperature of 18 degrees F.: considered    hardy in USDA Zone 8.-   Root system: Fine, fibrous.-   Propagation: Propagation is accomplished by softwood stem cuttings.-   Time to develop roots: 7-10 days are needed for cuttings to develop    roots, at an air and soil temperature of 75 degrees F.-   Crop time: Approximately 4 weeks is needed to produce a finished    1-liter container.-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Tetragonal.        -   Stem color.—137A.        -   Stem dimensions.—24 cm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Bristly.        -   Branching.—Basal branching and many spreading branches.        -   Internode length.—2.5-4.5 cm. between nodes.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Shape.—Sagittate.        -   Margins.—Deeply lobed and with serrated edges.        -   Division.—Pinnately compound.        -   Venation.—Pinnate with veins depressed on adaxial surface            and protruding on abaxial surface.        -   Texture.—Medium to fine.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Sparse short bristly            hairs.        -   Mature leaf dimensions.—4.5 cm. in length and 3.0 cm. in            width.        -   Young leaf dimensions.—2 cm. in length and 1 cm. in width.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—137A.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—138B.        -   Petiole color.—138B.        -   Petiole surface.—Bristly.        -   Petiole dimensions.—2.0 cm. in length and 1.5 mm. in width.        -   Fragrance.—Lemon scented.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Terminal inflorescence.        -   Inflorescence shape.—Drumstick shaped.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—8 cm. in width at the widest part            and 5.0 cm. in depth.        -   Inflorescence type.—Capitulum.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—15-20 flowers per            inflorescence.        -   Lastingness of an individual inflorescence.—2-3 weeks.        -   Aspect.—Facing upward and outward.        -   Corolla depth.—15 mm. in depth.        -   Shape of corolla.—Cylindrical.        -   Color of corolla (inner surface).—145D.        -   Color of corolla (outer surface).—145D.        -   Nectary.—Circular fringed area at opening of corolla.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Bud dimensions.—10 mm in length, and 2 mm in width.        -   Bud shape.—Ovate.        -   Bud color, petals emerging.—Pure white, lighter than 155A.        -   Petals.—Five in number.        -   Petal color.—(Adaxial and abaxial surfaces) pure white,            lighter than 155A.        -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Flower shape.—Rotate.        -   Flower dimension.—1.50 cm. in diameter and 1.50 in height.        -   Petal shape.—Lobed.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal surfaces.—Glabrous and shimmering.        -   Calyx.—9 mm. in length and 3 mm. in width.        -   Sepals.—Five in number.        -   Sepal dimensions.—9 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Sepal apex.—Apiculate.        -   Fused or unfused.—Sepals are fused midway.        -   Sepal color.—138B.        -   Sepal surface.—Stipitate glandular with long hairs.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Four stamens inserted inside corolla tube.        -   Stamen color.—155A.        -   Pollen color.—145C.        -   Stamen dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 0.50 mm. in width.        -   Pollen amount.—Small amount.        -   Anther dimensions.—Less than 0.50 mm. in height and 1 mm. in            width.        -   Anther shape.—Double wings.        -   Anther color.—145C.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary dimensions.—Less than 0.25 mm. in diameter and height.-   Seed production:    -   -   Seed shape.—The seed is round and held at the end of a            filament.        -   Seed color.—197A.        -   Seed dimensions.—Less then 0.25 mm. in diameter.        -   Dimensions of filament.—1.75 mm. in length and less than            0.25 mm. in width.        -   Filament color.—156D.        -   Number of seeds.—More than one hundred.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Miss Anne’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.